Phalaenopsis plant named &#39;speechless elegance&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Speechless Elegance’, characterized by upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; strong flowering stems; strong leaves; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; white-colored flowers that are densely covered with variable dark purplish red-colored blotches and spots; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Phalaenopsis Plants

Inventor: René Schoone

Filed: Jun. 6, 2020

Ser. No. 62/705,003

Inventor and Applicant/Assignee hereby claims the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SPEECHLESS ELEGANCE’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR and APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee of the instant application, Floricultura B.V. of Heemskerk, The Netherlands on Sep. 17, 2020, application number 2020/2194. Foreign priority is not claimed to this European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Speechless Elegance’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Nantou, Taiwan and Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new fast-growing and freely flowering Phalaenopsis plants with good leaf shape and large flowers with unique and attractive patterns and coloration.

The new Phalaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination in January, 2011 in Nantou, Taiwan of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Fuller's Goddess’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘World Class’ x ‘Kungs Amar Dott “Big Lip”’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phalaenopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heemskerk, The Netherlands in September, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by in vitro meristem propagation in a controlled environment in Assendelft, The Netherlands since September, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Phalaenopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Speechless Elegance’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Speechless Elegance’ as a new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Strong flowering stems.     -   4. Strong leaves.     -   5 Freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per         plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.     -   6. Flowers with fused labella, typically referred to as a “big         lip” type.     -   7 White-colored flowers that are densely covered with variable         dark purplish red-colored blotches and spots.     -   8. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Fuller's Goddess’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Fuller's Goddess’ in flower shape as flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis have imbricate petals whereas flower petals of plants of ‘Fuller's Goddess’ are not imbricate. In addition, the labellum lateral and central lobes are fused in plants of the new Phalaenopsis whereas the lateral and central lobes of the labellum of plants of ‘Fuller's Goddess’ are not fused.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘World Class’ x ‘Kungs Amar Dott “Big Lip”’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘World Class’ x ‘Kungs Amar Dott “Big Lip”’ in flower shape as flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis have imbricate petals whereas flower petals of plants of ‘Kungs Amar Dott “Big Lip”’ are not imbricate. In addition, flowers of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are densely covered with variable blotches and spots whereas flowers of plants of ‘World Class’ x ‘Kungs Amar Dott “Big Lip”’ do not have blotches and spots.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of x Doritaenopsis ‘Untold Stories’, disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No., 62/705,005 and in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Untold Stories’ in flower shape as flower petals of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are more overlapping than flower petals of plants of ‘Untold Stories’. In addition, petal blotches and spots of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are more distinct and not as coalescing as petal blotches and spots of plants of ‘Untold Stories’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phalaenopsis plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Speechless Elegance’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Speechless Elegance’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the early winter in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Heemskerk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Phalaenopsis production. Plants were 18 months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the first twelve months of production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 27° C. During the final six months of production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C. During the 18 months of production, light levels ranged from a minimum of 5,000 lux to a maximum of 10,000 lux. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Speechless     Elegance’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Fuller's Goddess’, not             patented.         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘World Class’ x ‘Kungs             Amar Dott “Big Lip”’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About two weeks             at temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About 20 to 25 weeks at temperatures about 28° C. to             30° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; typically grey to green in             color; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low amount of branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright             plant habit with typically two inflorescences per plant,             each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial;             moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About             19.2 cm.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of             inflorescences.—About 51.6 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 31.6 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about             six leaves per plant.         -   Length.—About 22.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.4 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly arching.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate to narrowly oblong; moderately carinate.         -   Apex.—Unequal acute.         -   Base.—Sheathing. Sheath length: About 1.8 cm. Sheath width:             About 1.7 cm. Sheath color: Close to 143A to 143B; distal             margin, close to between 137A and 143A.         -   Margin.—Entire; not undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; slightly to moderately glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between             NN137A and 139A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between             137A and NN137B; venation, close to NN137A. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A to 146B; venation,             close to NN137A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers             arranged on axillary branched racemes; typically two             inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about 15             flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching inflorescences             supported by upright peduncles; flowers with three petals,             two lateral petals and one center petal transformed into a             labellum and three sepals.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about six months             after planting; plants flower naturally during the winter             into the spring.         -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers             maintain good substance for about four weeks on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence             apex).—About 30.3 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 21.4 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 cm by             1.8 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to 145C; towards             the base, close to 150B; variably dotted, close to N79A to             N79B.         -   Flower size.—About 7.7 cm (vertical) by 7.6 cm (horizontal).         -   Flower depth.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals             and one center petal transformed into a labellum.         -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 3.8 cm. Width: About 4.9 cm.             Shape: Lunate to reniform; slightly convex. Apex: Broad,             shallowly retuse to rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety;             matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to NN155D             with variable blotches and spots, close to 59A, 187B and             187C; at the base (at column connection), close to 187B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to NN155B to NN155C with             variable blotches and spots, close to 59A, 187B and 187C; at             the base (at column connection), close to 187B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D with variable             blotches and spots, close to 59A, N79C and 187B; at the base             (at column connection), close to 187B. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to NN155D with variable blotches and spots,             close to N79B, N79C and N186D; at the base (at column             connection), close to N79C.         -   Labella.—Appearance: Lateral and central lobes fused towards             the base into a single lobe, typically referred to as a “big             lip” type. Length, lateral lobes: About 2.2 cm. Width,             lateral lobes: About 1.7 cm. Length, central lobe: About             3.5 cm. Width, central lobe: About 2.6 cm. Shape, lateral             and central lobes: Overall, roughly deltoid to reniform.             Shape, lateral lobes: Broadly obovate-falcate. Shape,             central lobe: Rhomboidal. Apex, lateral lobes: Obtuse. Apex,             central lobe: Emarginate with two narrow and strongly             recurved cirrose tips, about 3 mm in length and about 1 mm             in width. Margins, lateral and central lobes: Entire;             slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety; matte.             Callosities: Located at the base of the labellum and             attachment point of the lateral petals; about 4 mm in             length, about 3.5 mm in width and about 6 mm in height.             Color, lateral and central lobes: When opening, upper             surface: Close to NN155D; densely covered with variable             blotches, close to N78B and N78C, and densely covered with             variable spots, close to 59A, 187B and 187C; towards the             upper margin, close to 187B; at the base (at column             connection), close to 187B; callosities, close to 187B. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 155C; towards the margins,             close to NN155D; densely covered with variable blotches,             close to N78B and N78C, and densely covered with variable             spots, close to N79B and N79C; towards the upper margin,             close to between N77A and N77B; at the base (at column             connection), close to between N77A and N77B. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to NN155D; densely covered with             variable blotches, close to N78B and N78C, and densely             covered with variable spots, close to N79B and N79C; towards             the upper margin, close to N79B, N186C, 187C and 187D; at             the base (at column connection), close to N79B, N186C, 187C             and 187D; callosities, close to 187B. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to NN155D; densely covered with variable             blotches, close to N78B and N78C, and moderately covered             with variable spots, close to N79C; towards the upper             margin, close to N79B and N79C; at the base (at column             connection), close to N79B and N79C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, one upper dorsal             sepal and two lower lateral sepals. Length, dorsal sepal:             About 4.2 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About 3.3 cm. Length,             lateral sepals: About 4.2 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About             3 cm. Shape, dorsal sepal: Broadly elliptic to broadly             ovate. Shape, lateral sepals: Broadly ovate. Apex, dorsal             sepal: Broadly emarginate. Apex, lateral sepals: Bluntly             acute. Base, dorsal and lateral sepals: Truncate. Margin,             dorsal and lateral sepals: Entire. Texture and luster,             dorsal and lateral sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous, velvety; matte. Color, dorsal sepal: When opening,             upper surface: Close to NN155D; towards the margins and             apex, close to 157B; large distal blotch, close to N78C;             densely covered with variable spots, close to 187A and 187B;             at the base (at column connection), close to 187A. When             opening, lower surface: Close to between 150D and 157A;             large distal blotch, close to NN74D; densely covered with             variable spots, close to N79A and N79B; at the base (at             column connection), close to N79A and N79B. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to NN155D; large distal blotch, close             to N78D to lighter than N78D; densely covered with variable             blotches and spots, close to N79A, N79B and 187B; at the             base (at column connection), close to 187B. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN155D; large distal blotch, close             to 77B to 77C; densely covered with variable blotches and             spots, close to N79B and N79C; at the base (at column             connection), close to N79B. Color, lateral sepals: When             opening, lower surface: Close to NN155D; lower half, close             to 150D; densely covered with variable spots, close to 187A             to 187B; at the base (at column connection), close to 187A.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 150D, 154C and 154D;             densely covered with variable spots, close to N79B and 187B;             at the base (at column connection), close to N79B. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; densely covered with             variable blotches and spots, close to N79C; at the base (at             column connection), close to N79B. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to NN155B to NN155C; densely covered with             variable blotches and spots, close to N78A, N78B and N79C;             at the base (at column connection), close to N79C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 52.6 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to outwardly arching.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to             144A; proximally, close to 147A; fine dots, close to 146B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 50° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             Close to 147D; distally, close to between 157A and 196D and             proximally, close to 197B to 197C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 8 mm.             Column width: About 5.5 mm. Column color: Close to N79C;             distally, close to N155A. Pollinia quantity: Two. Pollinia             diameter (per two pollinia): About 2.5 mm. Pollinia color:             Close to 23A. Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 2 mm. Stigma             width: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Stigma color:             Close to N155A with margins, close to N79C. Ovary length:             About 8 mm. Ovary diameter: About 1 mm. Ovary color: Close             to 145C. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Phalaenopsis. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phalaenopsis     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 15° to about     40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Speechless Elegance’ as illustrated and described. 